Messi and Suarez score as Miami stages a comeback for a draw in Nashville
Luis Suarez secured a late equalizer following Lionel Messi's goal as Inter Miami rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 match on Thursday. Canadian winger Jacob Shaffelburg had netted two impressive goals, putting Nashville ahead 2-0 before Miami's comeback.
The goals from the ex-Barcelona forwards, who both scored two each in the 5-0 victory over Orlando on Saturday, position Miami as favorites for Wednesday's return in South Florida, where a spot in the quarter-finals is at stake.
Miami, having previously defeated Nashville on penalties in the Leagues Cup final last season, returned for the debuts of Messi, Busquets, and Suarez in CONCACAF regional competition. Coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino gave a debut to new Argentine signing Federico Redondo in midfield, but Spaniard Jordi Alba was absent due to illness.
However, Miami found themselves trailing as Nashville’s Shaq Moore broke through from midfield, setting up Shaffelburg, who fired past Drake Callender with a left-footed drive from the edge of the box. Shaffelburg, recognizable by his distinctive mullet haircut, extended the lead two minutes into the second half with an even more impressive finish, cutting in from the left and delivering an unstoppable shot with his right foot high into the far top corner.
Miami fought back strongly, with Messi reducing the deficit six minutes later with a trademark left-footed curler. Suarez assisted him on the edge of the box, and despite the close presence of four defenders, Messi found space to maneuver the ball onto his left foot and slot it into the corner.
Miami saw an effort from Diego Gomez ruled out for offside, but Nashville was not prepared to defend with their backs against the wall just yet.
Moore made a cut from the right, beating Callender to send the 30,109 crowd into a frenzy. However, a VAR review revealed that Moore had been narrowly offside from earlier in the move, leading to the disqualification of the goal.
Deep in stoppage time, the ball was delivered to Busquets on the right, and the Spanish veteran sent in a cross that Suarez headed home. Coach Martino remarked, “It leaves us in a good position for the second 90 minutes, which are going to be as tough as today and the other games we have played with Nashville."
“We put the game at risk at the start of the first and second half… We came in with less intensity than the opponent put in.
“There are 10 or 15 minutes in each half that could have cost us the game. For an hour we controlled the ball very well, we circulated the ball well, we had chances to score but we could also be 3-0 down seven or eight minutes into the second half,” he said.
Nashville’s English manager, Gary Smith, expressed frustration over Moore’s disallowed goal and believed his team should have been awarded a penalty in the first half. Despite this, he expressed pride in his team's performance, stating, “Hell of a game. I’m very, very proud of the performance from the guys; we created an awful lot against an exceptional team. I see no reason why we won’t go to Miami and put on a real show. There’s still plenty of mileage in this tie.”
In another match, Monterrey’s USA striker, Brandon Vazquez, scored on his return to his former club Cincinnati, leading the Mexican club to a 1-0 win in their first-leg tie on Thursday. Cincinnati had a disallowed goal in the 18th minute, but Vazquez broke the deadlock six minutes later, securing the victory for Monterrey.
Maximiliano Mesa located the forward in the box, and his right-footed attempt sneaked under the body of Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano, who could have performed better. Vazquez's seventh goal in 11 appearances since joining the five-time CONCACAF champions will bolster his case for inclusion in Gregg Berhalter’s USA squad for the upcoming Nations League Final Four.
In the 70th minute, Monterrey was reduced to ten men following a VAR review that concluded Rodrigo Aguirre had struck Baird off the ball before a corner.
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